Computing-scale.



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COMPUTING SCALE.

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APPLICATION FILED IIIAYB, I9Iz.

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COMPUTING SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY II. 1912.

Patented July 23, 1918.

M I o e n W E. M. SCHANTZ.

COMPUTING SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYII. I9I2.

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COMPUTING SCALE. APPLICATION man MAY 8. i912.

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COMPUTING SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYII, 1912.

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COMPUTING SCALE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 8`. I9I2.

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figg/J UNITED STATES PATENT FFIC.

EDWIN M. sOIIANTz, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNOR To THII COMPUTING SCALE COMPANY, or DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

COMPUTING-SCALE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

`Patented July 23, 1918.

Application led May 8, 1912. Serial No. 695,879.

useful Improvements in Computing-Scales,

of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improved computing scale for weighing articles of merchandise.

Another object of my `invention is to provide a computing scale that shall indicate and register the results obtained thereby. Another object of my invention is to provide a computing apparatus that shall be operated by an auxiliary source of energy in correspondence with the scale, but without bui-(lening the scale. These objects of my invention andmany others will be more readily understood and appreciated in connection with the following specification and claims, taken with the accompanying draw-Y ings.

In these drawings, I have, for the sake of making a clear explanation, shown several specific embodiments of my invention, but it will be understood that the invention is intended to be defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 is a general diagrammatic view of one embodiment of my invention.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views of modified forms of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a general top plan view of the apparatus illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detached portion of the same.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the weighing apparatus.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a locking -inechanism and electric switch.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the same.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the parts behind those shown in Fig. T and looking in the same direction.

Fig. 11 is an elevation of a detail part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a vertical axial section of the weighing apparatus shown in front elevation in Fig. 7.

Fig. 13 is a rear .elevation of the com-puting apparatus.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section of the same,

taken on the line 14 in Fig. 15, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 15 is a semi-diagrammatic elevation.`

of the computing apparatus looking across the broken line 15 in Fig. 111, in the direction of the arrows. i

Fig. 1,6 is a section of the computing apparatus, taken on the broken line 16 in Fig. 14, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary section, takenl on the line 15 in Fig. 14, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary section, taken on the line 15 in Fig.' 14, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 19 is a set of elevations of a series of notched disks that are mounted on the lowermost shaft shown in Fig. 15.

Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic elevation of a recording attachment.

Fig. 21 is a diagrammatic section of the same.

Fig. 22 is a detail elevation showing a feature of construction of certain carrying mechanism.

In a general way, the apparatus in Figs. 1 and 5 to 19, inclusive, comprises a spring balance for weighing an article, a computing apparatus with means for indicating and registering the results attained therewith, and means actuated by an auxiliary source of energy to drive the computing apparatus in correspondence with the weighing apparatus. Stated otherwise, the device comprises weighing apparatus and independently energized computing apparatus, the weighing apparatus acting as a pilot for the computing apparatus.

I shall first describe the apparatus more particularly with reference to Fig. 1, and in this connection it should be understood that details of construction may be learned by referring to Figs. 5 to 19 inclusive.

The article to be weighed is placed on the scale platforn'i 86 (Figs. 5, Tand 12) and 1t thereby tends to rotate the shaft 31 through an angle proportional to the weight; this is due to the engagement of the rack 88 with the gear 89 on said shaft 31. The elongation of the spring 87 balances the weight on the platform 86. Y

The shaft 31 indirectly carries a cross arm 32 in front of an insulating disk 33, which is loosely mounted on the shaft 31.

The insulating disk 33 has studs 34 and 35 that limit the relative angular movement of the crossl arm 32. The insulating disk 33 also carries four leaf spring electrical con tact terminals 36, 37, 40 and 41. Stops 38 and 39 are provided for the contact terminals 36 and 37, respectively.

Back of the insulating disk 33 and rigidly connected therewith is a large gear wheel 42 which meshes with the small gear pinion 43 keyed on the shaft 44.

For the sake of clearness in the diagram lof Fig. 1, the elements designated 45 to 50,

inclusive, which` I am about to describe, are shown somewhat differently from the actual structure; the latter will be seen most clearly in Fig. 12 and its effect or function isvequivalent to that of the structure shown -in the diagram of Fig. 1.

. the arm 45 therewith, pulling on the spring 50. This pull on the spring 50 will be transmitted by the abutment- 47 to the cross arm 32 and will pull the latter against the stud 34, which is carried by the connected diskV -this push will -be 33 and gear wheel 42. Thus, the clockwise rotation of the shaft 31 will tend to rotate the gear wheel 42 therewith, but if the gear wheel 42 is held back, the spring 50W-will elongate and permit the arm 45 to go ahead. It will also be seen that if the arm 45 should swing countereclockwise, it will push the abutment 48 and, through the spring 49, yieldingly transmitted to the cross arm'32.

The apparatus whose elements are designatedby the reference numerals 45 to 50 is not absolutely necessary, but may be provided to protect the mechanism in case heavy articles are weighed.

The gear 42 .has a slot' 54 normally engaged by the stud on the end of the pivoted arm 56. The magnet 57 attracts the arm 56, causing it to come successively .in contact with the two contact terminals 58 and 59. L @i The shaft 44 carries a worm wheel 60 adapted to be engaged by either'of -two nated generally in Fig. 1 as 61, and more fully illustrated in Figs-13 to 19 of the drawings. The reference numeral 62 designates the indicating elements of the c'on'i- `puting mechanism 61,` and 162`is the manually operated mechanism by which the price isv setup, as will be described later.

. gear wheel 42 in the same direction.

This -computlng mechanism 6,1V comprises two circuit interrupters which are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, in order to complete the electric circuits in that-ligure.4v

63 and 64 are notched disks which are carried on projecting ends of shaft 95 and sleeve 113 (see Fig. 14) of the c omputen/ to be hereafter described. 65 and 66 are respective levers resting thereon with lugs 67 and 68 entering the notches. Thus whenever either disk 63 or 64 is rotated to aposition where theA corresponding lugs 67 or 68 does not register with a notch in the disk, then the lever 65 or 66 will be raised and the circuit of the battery 85 ,will be broken either at 69 or 70.-

71 is a small electric motor whose flexible armature shaft 92 carries the gear wheel 72 engaging the gear wheels 74 and 75 on the respective shafts 76 and 78 that carry the previously named worms 77 and 79. The two magnets 82 and 83 act respectively on the armatures 80 and 81 associated with the respective shafts 76`and 78. The shafts 76 and 78 are-held apart by' a strut 91 which i790 so as to afford the necessary flexible connec- ,A

tions.

When .an article is to be weighed it is placed on :the platform 86 (Figs. 6, .7 and 12) and thereby rotates or tends to rotate` the shaft 31 through an angle proportional to the weight. and 37 are placed very close to the cross -arm 32, so close that in normal condition the separation corresponds to only a small fraction of an ounce.

When the shaft 31 rotates under the influence of the weight The contact terminals 36 5' of the article being weighed, it acts through the spring 50 and throws the cross arm 32 against the stop 34, thus tending to drag the The cross arm 32 makes electrical contacts with the leafsprings 37 and 40 and closes the c1rcuit traced as follows (assuming the contacts 69 and 70 to be closed as is normally the case) from battery 85 through magnet "57, contact 40, arm 32, contact 70, lever 66,

contact 69, and lever v65, back to battery 85.

The-consequent energization of the magnet 57 attracts'the lever 56and draws the stop 55 out of the slot 54. The mmentthe lever 56 strikes the contact terminal 58 another circuit is closed, as follows: from battery 85 through lever 56, contact 58,'resistance 84, motor 71, contacts 7 0, 69 and back to battery 85. This starts the motor 71 at reducedgspeed,-rotating the worrnsl 77 and the circuit traced as follows: from battery 85 through lever 56, contact 58, magnet 83, contact 37, cross arm 32, contacts 70, 69 and back to the battery 85. The consequent energization of the magnet 83 causes the worm 79 to engage the worm wheel 60, thus the motor 71 through the gearing shown causes the gearwheel 42 to follow the arm 45. This continues until the gear wheel 42 overtakes the arm 45, whereupon the contact 32, 40 breaks and then a moment later the contact 32, 37 breaks. The breaking of the contact 32, 40 denergizes the magnet 57 and permits the stud 55 to rest against the smooth face of the gear wheel 42 (the slot 54 being displaced at this time). When Ithe stud 55 rests against the face ofthe gear wheel 42, the lever 56 breaks contact with 59, but continues to make contact with 58, thus the motor 71 continues to receive current through the resistance 84, and hence runs at reduced speed. When the contact breaks at 32, 37 the magnet 83 is denergized and the worm 79 disengaged from the worm wheel 60, thus stopping the rotation of the shaft 44 and the gear wheel 42.

If the arm 45 overshoots and swings back, as is commonly the case with the pointer of aspring balance,v then after breaking the contacts 32, 40 and 32, 37, it will next push through the abutment 48 and spring 49 on arm 32 and make the contact 32, 36 and perhaps thereafter also make the contact 32, 41. Making the contact 32, 36 will complete a circuit similar to that previously traced, but through `the magnet 82 instead of 83. This will cause the worm 77 to engage the worm wheel 60 and rotate the gear 42 in the opposite direction. lf the contact 32, 41 is made, then the magnet 57 will be energized, the contact 56, 59 will be closed, and the resistance 84 shunted.

Thus it will be seen that the energy of the motor 71 is applied to cause the gear wheel 42 to follow the pointer 45 as a pilot, and even if the pointer 45 oscillates, the

gear wheel42 will follow and take up thesame angular position as the pointer 45 when the latter finally comes to rest. Y

-The angular displacement of the pointers 45 and 32 being proportional to the weight of the article weighed, it follows that the angular rotation of the shaft 44 is likewise proportional to the weight. This shaft 44 extends into the computingmechanism 61,

shown-'in Figs. 13 to 19, where it isvcontinuous with thc .shaft designated 96.'I

` vThe computer frame comprises two end standards 93 and 94 in which are journaled the shafts 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101 and 102. Of these, as already mentioned, the shaft 96 is in alinement with and driven by the 'shaft 44. Keyed on the end of the shaft 95 is a disk' 103 with a handle 104. On the part of the shaft 95 remote from the disk 103 there are mounted eight notched disks 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111 and 112 which function in pairs as just named, and as will be described presently. These eight disks are shown in elevation in F ig. 19, where they all correspond in angular position. Considering, for example, the pair 105 and' 106, it will be seen that the notches 146 on the disk105 register with the projections 147 on the disk 106, and reciprocally the projections 148 on the disk 105 register with the notches 149 on the disk 106.

Between the disk 103 and the disk 112, both of which are fixed upon the shaft 95, there is a sleeve 113 surrounding said shaft 95. At its end this sleeve 113 carries a disk 114 adjacent to the disk 103. The disk .114 has a handle 115, and through the projection carrying said handle is a sight opening 117 through which numerals are displayed on the stationary disk 116. The handle 115 has a spring actuated dog 150 which en gages pits adjacent to the indicating numerals on the stationary disk 116. The handle 104 also has a similar dog 151 which engages pits on the disk 114.

The sleeve 113 carries a set of notched disks exactly similar to those carried by the shaft 95.

The shaft 96 has fixed thereon eight collars 118, eachV of which carries .two loose` Abeveled gears 119 on radial axes. Four of these collars 118 and the respectively associated mechanisms coperate with the eight disks 105 to 112, inclusive, on the shaft 95 and ythe other four collars 118 on the shaft 96 and notched disk 123 also have rigidly connected therewith a' gear wheel 124 which meshes with the gear wheel 128 loosely mounted on the shaft 97. The gear wheel 128 carries therewith a bevel gear 129. Loosely mounted on the -shaft 97 is a sleeve 125 carrying a collar 126 with two loosel bevel gears 127 on radial axes. Loosely surrounding the sleeve 125 is a collar comprising the bevel gear wheel 131 opposed to 129, and the gear wheel 130.

Each of the eight sets ofdi'erential gear mechanism on the shaft 96 drives from its gear wheel 124 into a gear whe'el 128 (130) on the shaft 97. Thus there are eight driven gear wheels 128 (or 130) on the shaft 97. These drive in pairs into the sleeves 125 carrying the respective gears 152, of which accordingly there are four. These four gears 152 on the shaft 97 drive into four gear wheels on the shaft 98 which combine their movement into two trains of gears (the driving wheel of each train being designated, respectively, 132 and 133) from the shaft 98 to the shaft 99. By another similar combination of the motions the two rotations on the shaft 99 are combined into one rotation of the gear wheel 134 on that shaft. This rotation is transmitted to the gear wheel 135 on the shaft 100. Rigidly connected with the gear wheel 135 is the indicating drum 136, which carries numerals from 1 to 10 on its periphery. -By means of carrying mechanism one rotation of the drum 136 (which reads cents) moves the drum 153 along one step, this drum indicating tens of cents. Similarly, by further .carrying mechanism, the drum 154 is made to indicate dollars. The wheel 184 turns with 'the gear wheel 134 and engages the wheel 185, which is mounted integrally with the drum 153. yThe gear 134 is twice as large as 13 5, and' accordingly the wheel 184 makes two rotations for one rotation of the drum 136. The wheel 184 has two teeth which accordingly advance the drum 153 two steps of one-tenth revolution each for each revolution of 184. The carrying from 153 to 154 is eected similarly.

The shaft 95, in addition to its notched disks 4or cams, carries a gear wheel 137, which meshes with a gear wheel 138 on the shaft 101. This, in turn, drives a gear.

wheel 139 on the same shaft, which meshes with a gear 140 on the' shaft 100. Carried by the gear 140 is the indicating drum 141.

Adjacent theretois another indicating drum 142, which is driven by a similar train of gearing from a gear wheel carried byethe sleeve 113. Thus, the two drums 141 and 142 are positively.' connected by gearing to the two crank handles 104 and 115. These crank handles are used to register the price of the commodity being weighed, and therefore the drums 141 and 142 indicate that price. y i

On the shaft 96 is a gear wheel 143, and

from this a train of gears-shown in Fig.v

17-drives the drum 144, which indicates ounces of weight, its periphery reading from 1 to 16. By carrying mechanism the adjacent drum 145 is made' to indicate pounds of weight.

The computer drive shaft 96 rotates through an angular distance that is proportional to the-weight of the article on the scale platform 86, as has already been explained. The price of the commodity is set up7 by means of the handles 104 and 115, that is, for example, for a price of twenty-eight cents per pound the handle 115 would be rotated to stand opposite the numeral 2 on the dial shown in Fig. 13, and the handle 104 would be rotated to stand opposite the numeral 8 on the same dial. This .would rotate the sixteen notched disks on the shaft 95 so as to lock some of thel gear wheels on the shaft 96 and unlock others. The gear ratios from these various gears over the trains that lead to the gear wheel 135 are'dif'ferent and accordingly these gear ratios will depend on which gears on the shaft 96 are locked and which are unlocked. Referring to Fig. 19, if 105 locks and 106 unlocks this gives 1; similarly 108 `gives 2; 110 gives 3; 112 gives 4; 106 and 112 both unlocking simultaneously give 5; similarly 108 and 112 give 6, 110 and .112 give 7; 106, 110 and 112 give 8, and 108, 110 and 112 give 9. That is, by locking certain of the gears on the shaft 96 by means of the disk on the shaft 95 and unlocking others in this way ten alternative gear ratios are obtained from the shaft 96 to the gear wheel 135. These ten ratios are respectively proportional to the numbers 0, 1, 2, and so on, to 9. Each of these ratios is in effect determined by the position of the handle 104 with respect to the dial 116. Similarly, `the handle 115 gives ten different gear ratios by means of the notched collars on the sleeve 113.

Thus, it will be seen that the three drums 154, 153 andf136 indicate the product in dollars and cents obtained by multiplying the price of the commodity by the number of units of weight thereof.

Also, the two drums 142 and 141 indicate the price of the commodity per unit of weight.

Also, the two drums 144 and 145 indicate the weight of the commodity in pounds and ounces.

The four drums 163, 164, 165 and 166 on the shaft 100 are provided inconnection with a recording adjustment which I will now describe,` referring particularly to Figs. 20 and 21. These four disks just referred to are intended to be rotated manually by the operator. 163, 164 and.165, respectively,

are for cents, dimes and dollars for the cus-l be seen that on the shaft 100 there are twelve indicating drums. On the shaft 102 there "are twelve telescopi'ng' sleeves 16'?.v At one y end each sleeve gearsdirectly or indirectly leo with 'a corresponding drum on the shaft 100. This gearing is not shown on the figures, but is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 21. At the other end each sleeve 167 carries a type wheel 168. In front of the twelve type' wheels 168 is a carbon ribbon 169 and adjacent to this in successive order are a permanent record sheet 17 0, another carbon ribbon 171, and a strip of tickets 172 and a temporary ticket 174 side by side. The hammer 173 is adapted to strike in the direction ofthe arrow shown in Fig. 21 and print from the type Vwheels 168. The gear wheel 175 is driven from the motor 71 by connections 'comprising bevel gears 200. flexible shaft 201 and bevel gears 202 (see Fig. 10). Whenthe clerk wishes to record a sale lie pushes on the key 186 and thereby starts the gear 177 to rotate countei-Lcloclmise. This gear 177 is notched at 176 so that only by the push just referred to can the gear 175 engage 'the gear 177, but thereafter 177 will make a complete revolution. This gear 177 carries a cam 178 which pushes the bar 179 against the spring 180. This spring 180 returns the bar so that the pawls carried thereby rotate the winding drums for the ribbon 169, record sheet 170 and ribbon 1'71. The strip of tickets 172 is fed forward between a drum carried by the gear 177 and. an opposed drum 182. This drum 182 and itsopposite drum carry a respective knife and notch, as indicated by 187, that cut off the'ticket. The hammer 173 is carried by a lever 181 which is acted upon by the cam 178. lThe spring 183 causes the hammer 173 to strike a smart blow to cause the printing impression to be taken.

After the drums on the shaft 100 that indicate price, weight and computed cost have automatically come to rest, the clerk moves the drums 163, 164 and 165 to indicate how much a. icustomer shall pay. He also moves the drum 166 to indicate the class of goods, and the drum 189 to record his identity, and then pushes the button 186. This causes a permanent record to be made upon the sheet 170 of all the data referred to. It also cansesa record of the price per pound, number of pounds and ounces, computed cost, and salesmans initials, to be made on the ticket 172. There is no duplicate record made as to the class of goods from the disk 166. The duplicate record of the amount charged the customer is made on the ticket 174. It is intended that the ticket 172 shall be wrapped with the lfoods while the ticket 174 shall be handed by the customer to the cashier, to indicate the amount due from the customer.

One reason for registering both the computed cost of the goods and the amount to be charged to the customer is shown by this illustration. Incertain classes of goods, such as cheese, the customer may ask for,

174 to the cashier. who will add up these amounts and. take the payment accordingly.

In' this system, when a customer buys some article that is not sold by weight, as, for example, canned goods, the goods are weighed nevertheless, but with the price indicating elements 162 set at zero. In this way a record is made of every purchase.

Attached to the machine there may be a set of permanent registers which will add the indications of the various disks on the shaft 100. One such register' is indicated diagrammatically at 188 in Fig. 21. This may be on the principle of the Veeder counter, and it will simply add the indications of the corresponding disks on the shaft 100 for rotations in one direction and not be operated by rotations in the other direction. IVith a set of such registers 1,88 the proprietor can see at a glance how the total computed costs of articles sold over the scales compare with the amounts charged the customers and can easily gather. other information.

Having described the specific embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and to 19 of the drawings, I will now describe the modifications shown in Figs. 2, 3 and The device shown in Fig. 2 differs from that of Fig. 1 in that the shaft 44 carries the armature 155 of an electric motor whose field magnet is 156. For simplicity, the

yielding mechanism corresponding to referf ence numerals 46 to 50 in Fig. 1 has been omitted from Figs. 2 and 3, but it will readily be understood that it could be supplied. The electric circuits being arranged as shown in the diagram, it will be seen that if the pointer 32 rotates clockwise it will make a contact with the two leaf springs 37 and 40, closing a circuit traced as follows: From battery 85, through arm 32, contact 37, armature 155, contact 40, field 156, contacts 69, 70 and thence back to the battery 85. On the other hand, if the cross arm 32 moves counter-clockwise, it will make electrical contact with the leaf springs 36 and 41, thus closing the circuit from battery 85, through arm 32, contact 41, armature 155, contact 36, field winding 156, contacts 69, 70 and back to the battery 85. It will be observed that the two circuits just traced iiow through the armature 5,5 in reverse diist rection, thus reversing themotor and making it drive the gear wheel 42 to follow the arm 32, whichever way the latter swings. In connection with the explanation of Fig. 1 the operation of this device will now be apparent.

The device shown in Fig. 3 comprises a pivoted arm 158 with an armature 157 adapted to be acted upon by either of the magnets 82 or 83. The arm 158 carries a geared sectbr 159 which engages the gear wheel 60.. It will readily be seen by tracing the circuits that the movement of the pointer 32 clockwise or counter-clockwise will energize the magnet 83 or 82, respectively, thus shifting the geared sector 159 and causing the gear wheel 42\tol follow the index 32.V

Referring to Fig. 4, 32l designates the index hand of a scale, such as a spring balance. 160 is a fixed dial on which the said index 32 reads. Behind the fixed dial 160 is the gear wheel 42 rotatably mounted around the shaft 31 that carries the index 32. The gear wheel 42 has a handle 161 by which it maybe turned manually. The computer 61 has its price setting elements designated 162.

To illustrate the use of the device shown in Fig. 4, suppose, for example, it is desired to sell three pounds of coffee, the price being thirty-live cents per pound. This price is set up on the device 162 and the handle 161 is swung around until it brings the adjacent arrow head opposite the three pound mark on the dial 160. This causes the indicator 62 to exhibit the data ofthe sale, including the cost of the three pounds of coffee, which would be $1.05. Then the coffee is loaded on the platform86 until the index 32 regis'- ters with the arrow7 on the handle 161.

e Again, suppose that it is desired to sell av ham of previously unknown Weight at twenty-three cents per pound. The pricetwenty-three cents-is set up in the device 162 and then the ham is put on the platform 86, throwing the pointer around to indicate, say, eight pounds. Then the operator seizes the handle 161 and rotates it until the arrow thereon registers with the index 32,

whereupon the indicator'62 wil exhibit the data of the sale, including the cost of the ham, which will be $1.84.

Suppose, again, that a customer calls for one dollars worth of sugar, the price of which is six cents per pound. The operator sets this price on the device 162 and then rotates the handle 161 until the indicator 62 shows one dollar as the computed cost. VLeaving the computor in this condition, he

then loads the sugar upon the goods-receiver 86 until the index 32 registers with the arrow on the handle 161. This assures him that the sugar has been loaded upon the goodsreceiver to the extent of one dollars worth. In the folowing claims I have referred t0 one element of the combination which in1 certain aspects constitutes my invention, as

an equilibrium machine: A specic embodiment of this is shown, for example, in Fig. 12, where it comprises the platform 86, rack 88 and spring 87. An equilibrium machine is understood to be a device in which there is a goods-receiver of some 3sort and an ele- 4ment which takes a position that corresponds with Athe weight vof the article on the goods-receiver..

It will be seen that in a device made ac- @Ording to my invention, the equilibrium machine is not unduly burdened with the work of moving elements lof mechanism, but it acts as a sort of a pilot .to 'determine the application of an auxiliary source of energy to move the computing mechanism.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination; an equilibrium machine; a computing machine adjustable in accordance with two factors, one the price per pound and the other the weight on the equi-j librium machine; an auxiliary source of power; and means to apply the power and to control the application thereof to operate the computing machine in either direction to correspond with the weight on the equilibrium machine and the other factor.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination; an equilibrium machine; a computing machine adjustable in accordance with two factors, one the price per pound and the other the weight on the equilibrium machine; a recording machine posiv tioned in accordance with the computation performed on the computing machine; an auxiliary source of power; and means to apply the power and to control the application thereof to operate the computing `machine and the recording machinel to correspond with the equilibrium machine.v

3. In a device of the class described, in combination; an.v equilibrium machine; an index operated thereby; a computing machine; a recording machine separate from but operated in accordance with the computation performed on the computing machine; an auxiliary source of power; and means to apply the said power to operate the computing machine to correspond with the equilibrium machine, said means being adapted to limit the operation of the computing and recording machinein accordance with the position of the index operated by the equilibrium machine.

4. In a device of the class described; an equilibrium machine; an index operated thereby; a computing machine; a mem-I ber mechanically connected thereto and adapted to be placed in registering position with said index; means to adjust the computing machine to correspond with one factor; an auxiliary source of energy; and 

